Invitational Art Sled exhibit and silent auction returns to Vail

Special to the Daily
"Sashay…prepared for frolic and flight" by Britten, is on view at Galerie Züger in Solaris, Vail.
Britten, originally from San Francisco, studied art in Florence, Italy. Having spent time as a graphic artist, portrait artist, and mural artist, she has found her true expression in the contemporary art world. A resident of the Vail Valley for 18 years, Britten exhibits her art in galleries in Denver, Aspen, Beaver Creek, and Vail, as well as Santa Fe and Dallas. Her process of painting is unique. She begins with organic cotton canvas stretched upon a hand made alder wood frame. Using gesso and a water based layer for an underlying visual texture, she then applies gold, silver, and copper leaf. Next she incorporates oil paint and resin resulting in luminous inner landscapes ranging from a peaceful ethereal feeling to a vibrant zing. Britten applied this similar technique to "Sashay…prepared for frolic and flight."

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Art in Public Places (AIPP) presents the third annual Invitational Art Sled Exhibition and Silent Auction. Five artists have been invited to participate in this year's exhibition to recreate wooden sleds into unique works of art. The Art Sleds will be on view at the second floor galleries in Solaris today through Feb. 14. This viewing is free and open to the public.Look for photos of each sled in the High Life section of the Vail Daily each day through Feb. 14. Promoting art, sustainability, creativity, recreation, and community, the wooden sleds collected through generous donations have been recreated over several months by local artists. From abstract landscapes to bursting blossoms, from soaring angels to flying pigs, the Art Sleds epitomize imagination and ingenuity executed on an atypical canvas."There is a great variety of style and creativity in this year's Art Sled Exhibition," said Molly Eppard, Art in Public Places coordinator. "The diversity in the sleds is also quite interesting this year. We have a sled that was used for newspaper delivery, an antique child's sled, Flexible Flyers, and also handmade sleds by Colorado's own Mountain Boy Sledworks."The works are available for purchase by a silent auction. Each Art Sled will have bidding information accompanying it at the gallery where it is displayed, as well information regarding the final bidding that will take place on February 15. A portion of the monies raised will go towards funding future AIPP programs.Participating artists include: Britten, Mary Jane McEachron, Joan Norris, Ben Roth, Dustin Zentz and Mountain Boy Sledworks.Participating galleries: Carrie Fell Gallery, Forr & Co. Fine Art Gallery, Galerie Zger, Tony Newlin Gallery, Vail Fine Art Gallery and Worth Home.For more information on the Art Sled exhibition, sale, final bidding, or donating a wooden sled for next year's exhibition of contact Eppard at 970-479-2344 or meppard@vailgov.com. All of the Art Sleds and artist statements may be viewed on www.artinvail.com.